THE COAL STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1916, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE.

REFUSAL TO BALLOT. Australian-Njs. Cable Association. Sydney, Nov. 22. The. Minors' Federation has' cancelled arrangements for the ballot of Northern miners, owing to the hostility of the moil. A meeting ( of Southern miners decided with great enthusiasm not to take a ballot, and express»d a determination not to resume work until all their demands had been granted. Twelve hundred men have been paid off at Walsh Island Government works, involving a loss of wages of £SOOO weekly. There is a .-.ullieient suppb of real to light the city for a fortnight only. It is anticipated that before the end of the week the whole of the brickworks will cease operations. A deadlock lias been created by the miners' recusal to take a ballot. This is regarded as a most serious development. The whole commercial and domestic facilities are threatened with dislocation. _ The mine-owners meet to-day to consider the situation. The next Government move is anxiously awaited. FAR-REACHING TROUBLF - > BREWING. London, Nov. 21. A correspondent in South Wales says that far-reaching mining trouble is brewing. The miners are dissatisfied with the non-settlement of long-stand-ing grievances. GLOOMIEST FOREBODINGS. THE MEN OBDURATE, Received Nov. 22, 10 p.m. Sydney, Last Night. . The depressing effect of the coal strike increases daily, yesterday's fiasco causing the gloomiest forebodings. The evening papjrs have startling headlines: •'Chaus Threatens Australia!". "The Grim Menace of Famine!" Tiie papers forecast that the stoppage" of trains would mean that the food supplies would he exhausted in ten days. , The general feeling is that the miners will not resume until their demands are granted, apparently mistrusting' the possibility of obtaining redress at the tribunals. The owners have suspended all preparations fur resumption and withdrawn tiie pit horses. The gas restrictions vary daily. The Board now prohibits the, use of lighting, heating, or cooking in hotels, restaurants, shops, and all trading for business purpose.-.. Manay prosecutions for contravention of the regulation are contemplated. Melbourne, Last Night. The Federal Cabinet discussed tile coal crisis, and it is expected to take action under the War Precautions Act, and limit the use ol coal for national industries' only. The miners' delegate wired to Mr. Hughes that the. men had refused to take a ballot, and had faithfully represented their proposals to the proprie: tors' representatives. Ke telegraphed the result of the meeting, pointing out that tho miners were prepared for a resumption of work as arranged, and renewed the oll'er to agree to the eight ours' hank-to-bauk principle, as defined in the English Coal Mining Act. They could not agree to all hands commencing and finishing together, which would seriously cripple the industry. Nevertheless, they were prepared to abide by the deciison of a competent tribunal. Mvf. Hughes has summoned a further compulsory conference for Friday.